The National Hockey League trade deadline is fast approaching, as March 6 sits just over one month away. The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves six points out of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with 25 games to play, leaving the door open for the team to sell off some assets to help recoup some draft picks and prospects to a farm system that is quite bare.
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston recently wrote an article outlining the top 50 players that could be moved prior to the March 6 deadline. Four Maple Leafs players, including Bobby McMann and Simon Benoit, were listed as potential new candidates to find new homes for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
McMann is a strong candidate to be moved at this year’s deadline. A pending unrestricted free agent with a $1.35 million cap hit, this is the type of player that many teams would want for a playoff run, due to McMann’s size, offensive ability and cheap price tag. Through 56 games, McMann has recorded 19 goals and 13 assists, two points off the career high of 34 points the 29-year-old set last year.
On January 19, the San Jose Sharks acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for two second-round draft picks, one in 2026 and again the following year in 2027 and American Hockey League defenceman Cole Clayton. Sherwood, like McMann, is also a pending UFA at season’s end and could be a starting point for what the Maple Leafs put McMann’s price tag at.
Benoit comes with an extra year of control for teams looking to add more than just a rental for this upcoming postseason. The 27-year-old has a cap hit of $1.35 for this season and next, making Benoit a cheap option for teams that desire him as an addition to their club. Through 49 games played, Benoit has recorded three assists and a minus-five rating. The Maple Leafs leader in hits with 128, Benoit doesn’t shy away from any opportunity to make his presence felt physically on any given night.
Johnston also listed Scott Laughton and Calle Järnkrok as potential options to be moved, as both players are also on expiring contracts and are UFAs at season’s end. Laughton has recorded eight goals and three assists through 39 games played, with a cap hit of $1.5 million. Järnkrok has appeared in 37 games, posting six goals and one assist, while making $2.1 million.
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Marshall Rifai has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies, from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies announced Friday.
Rifai played 9:40 during his lone appearance with the Maple Leafs this season, in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Vancouver Canucks. The 27-year-old has been considered a potential third-pair option at the NHL level, but he’s spent the majority of his year with the Marlies, recording four assists in 12 games. Rifai underwent wrist surgery to begin the year, after sustaining an injury during a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens.
“I like his feet and competitiveness. Those are two things that stand out to me. He has really good feet, and he is a highly competitive guy,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Rifai on January 31.
“Since I’ve been here from last year to this year, this guy is highly prepared. You notice the little things with some of these guys: how early they get to the rink every day, and their preparation. He is a good pro. He does all of the right things.”
During the Olympic break, Rifai will be afforded some playing time, as the Marlies continue their schedule Saturday, hosting the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Rifai is a physical presence on the Leafs’ blue line, and could potentially be recalled to the NHL, as the organization navigates the final 25 games of the year, in an uphill battle to make the playoffs.
“He had some games up with us last year and he worked so hard,” Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said of Rifai during the 2024-25 training camp. “You can just see he wants it and continues to progress, and I’ve been pretty impressed with him and the way he plays hard on both sides of the puck.”
Rifai will get some valuable playing time with the Marlies and given that he’s been called up several times by the Maple Leafs over the past two seasons, this may be a strategic move more than anything.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in an unfamiliar position as the National Hockey League rolls on with February. Currently six points back of the Boston Bruins with 25 games to play, the Maple Leafs are going to need to start accumulating wins when the NHL season resumes from the Olympic break if they want to find themselves in the hunt for Lord Stanley.
On Thursday, former NHL player Anthony Stewart joined Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss the current state of the Maple Leafs. While still facing an uphill battle, Stewart believes that the signs shown during the recent road trip could be an indicator of more success to come.
“I think it’s going to come down to the wire,” Stewart said. “I think the number one thing was goaltending last year, you had a 1A, 1B situation between Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, but that just hasn’t happened. The last couple weeks, they’ve started to get in there and get their rhythm back. If you get the goaltending you got from Stolarz and Woll these last couple games, they’re going to have a chance.”
Bobby McMann has found himself continuously in the trade rumours these past few weeks, as the deadline approaches and the Maple Leafs sit on the outside of the playoffs looking in, McMann’s time in Toronto could be coming to an end. With a trade freeze in effect until 11:59 p.m. on February 22, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving will have just under two weeks to decide what to do the pending unrestricted free agent before the deadline hits on March 6.
“I think Treliving is going to toe the line and make some minor adjustments,” Stewart said. “If you look at this roster, what are they missing? You’re missing that $5 million winger that can go up and down the ice and put the puck in the net. So if I’m Treliving, I’m finding a way to sign McMann.”
The Maple Leafs have the top-end players in place, with captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander, but much has been made of the lack of supporting cast built around the two this season.
“You break it down to rebuild around superstars. You have two of those guys already. I think you need to build around them, but you’ve got to be better with the guys you bring in,” Stewart said. “You need guys to get you through the playoffs, that play that heavy style of hockey, and you know exactly what you are going to get.”
As of Thursday morning, moneypuck.com listed the Maple Leafs’ playoff odds at 9.6%, far from an easy task of reaching the playoffs for a 10th straight season. Stewart, though, has belief in this year’s group that a run can still be put together when asked if he thought they could make the playoffs.
“I’m going to say yes, one of these teams are going to fall,” Stewart said. “I think it’s going to come down to the wire, and if they miss out, it’s going to be by one or two points.”
You can watch the full interview below:
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The Milan Games are officially underway, and The Leafs Nation will be following along avidly. Auston Matthews, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and William Nylander are the three Toronto Maple Leafs participating in the men’s hockey tournament for their respective countries.
In case you were wondering when Matthews, Ekman-Larsson and Nylander play, we’ve got you covered here. Games can be watched on CBC and CBC Gem in Canada. And for easy viewing, we’ve also included Canada’s preliminary round schedule.
The women’s hockey tournament is already underway, with the Canadian women’s national team scheduled to face Switzerland on Saturday afternoon.
For everything you need to know about the Milan Games, we highly recommend viewing Daily Faceoff’s men’s and women’s Olympic hockey hubs.
SWEDEN
Wednesday, February 11th: Italy vs. Sweden @ 3:10 PM Eastern (Preliminary)
Friday, February 13th: Finland vs. Sweden @ 6:10 AM Eastern (Preliminary)
Saturday, February 14th: Slovakia vs. Sweden @ 6:10 AM Eastern (Preliminary)
UNITED STATES
Thursday, February 12: Latvia vs. United States @ 3:10 PM Eastern (Preliminary)
Saturday, February 14: Denmark vs. United States @ 3:10 PM Eastern (Preliminary)
Sunday, February 15: Germany vs. United States @ 3:10 PM Eastern (Preliminary)
CANADA
Thursday, February 12: Czechia vs. Canada @ 10:40 AM Eastern (Preliminary)
Friday, February 13: Switzerland vs. Canada @ 3:10 PM Eastern (Preliminary)
Sunday, February 15: France vs. Canada @ 10:40 AM Eastern (Preliminary)
Elimination rounds
Tuesday, February 17th: TBD vs. TBD: 6:10 AM (Qualifying)
Tuesday, February 17th: TBD vs. TBD: 6:10 AM (Qualifying)
Tuesday, February 17th: TBD vs. TBD: 10:40 AM (Qualifying)
Tuesday, February 17th: TBD vs. TBD: 3:10 PM (Qualifying)
Wednesday, February 18th: TBD vs. TBD: 6:10 AM (Quarterfinal)
Wednesday, February 18th: TBD vs. TBD: 10:40 AM (Quarterfinal)
Wednesday, February 18th: TBD vs. TBD: 12:10 PM (Quarterfinal)
Wednesday, February 18th: TBD vs. TBD: 3:10 PM (Quarterfinal)
Friday, February 20th: TBD vs. TBD: 10:40 AM (Semifinal)
Friday, February 20th: TBD vs. TBD: 3:10 PM (Semifinal)
Saturday, February 21st: TBD vs. TBD: 2:40 PM (Bronze Medal Game)
Sunday, February 22nd: TBD vs. TBD: 8:10 AM (Gold Medal Game)
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Like Easton Cowan, this will likely be Dennis Hildeby‘s final season seen as a prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. The hulking 6-foot-7 goaltender got his first taste of NHL action in 2024-25, only two years after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL draft, and while his short stint last season revealed that he still needed some seasoning in the AHL, he has shown through 19 games in 2025-26 that he’s ready to be an NHL goaltender. And, if he wasn’t a victim of the numbers game with both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz signed to multi-year deals, he’d probably still be with the team.
When Woll left the team to attend to a personal matter at the start of the season, the Maple Leafs initially played the caution card with Hildeby, opting to claim a more seasoned goaltender in Cayden Primeau off waivers to back up Stolarz and allow their young goaltender to continue growing his game in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Toronto Marlies. When the Primeau experiment failed after only three games, Hildeby was recalled just a week before Woll’s return to the NHL, and cruelly enough, three days before Stolarz would suffer a long-term injury.
The Swedish netminder made his season debut on November 8 against the Boston Bruins after Stolarz was pulled following four goals on 19 shots, and stopped 19 of 20 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Bruins. Hildeby started his first game of the season on November 9, allowing five goals on 47 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes, and in the Maple Leafs’ next game, another tilt against Boston, Stolarz once again left early, this time due to an injury that would keep him on the shelf for a little over two months.
The story of Hildeby’s season has been providing relief for a Leafs goaltending tandem that was nowhere near as reliable as they were the year prior, sometimes to the fault of their own and sometimes due to uncontrollable circumstances like injury. Hildeby’s best stretch came in late November/early December, when he stopped 133 of 139 shots to the tune of a 3-0-2 record with a .957 save percentage (SV%).
Woll suffered an injury in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes not long after returning from his leave of absence, where Hildeby once again relieved him and finished the job, stopping all nine shots he faced in the third period of a 5-1 win. This was the only game of that five-game stretch that saw him enter the game in relief – he started each of the other four, picking up a win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 29-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and two overtime losses against the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks. The Maple Leafs’ home game against the Vegas Golden Knights on January 23 marked the first time all season that the Leafs had both Woll and Stolarz dressed for a game, and Hildeby was sent to the Marlies shortly thereafter.
Hildeby’s progression to the NHL has been a quick one, going from an overager who put up stellar numbers as a backup in Sweden’s pro league in his draft year to a readily capable NHL goalie in the span of three years. His performance in 2025-26, a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.84 and a .910 SV% that outshines his record of 5-6-4 on paper, will likely force the Maple Leafs to have some conversations about how to manage their goaltending situation in the offseason, or perhaps as soon as the trade deadline.
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Prior to the Olympic roster freeze, the Edmonton Oilers reportedly expressed interest in Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann. McMann is considered a popular trade candidate and the Maple Leafs are reportedly asking for a first-round pick in return for the 29-year-old winger. And it appears the Oilers may have further interest in the Maple Leafs’ roster, ahead of the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta recently joined Jeff Marek on The Sheet to reveal that the Oilers were in discussions with the Maple Leafs about a few different veterans.
“There was some word out of Edmonton that leading up to this freeze that they have been having discussions with the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Pagnotta said.
“I don’t know the specifics of where they’re going, I’m going to speculate a little bit — and it wasn’t Bobby McMann. I know there was a lot of intention and speculation about Bobby McMann, but going into the week, I know they haven’t spoken about McMann. But it sounds like maybe it’s Nic Roy, maybe it’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Those are two (players) I would not be shocked if they’ve poked on. But I was told by a couple of people that the Oilers and Leafs had conversations leading up to the freeze, and that may be something to keep an eye on out of the break.”
"I was told by a couple people that the Oilers and Leafs had conversations leading up to the freeze"@TheFourthPeriod revealed to @JeffMarek that Toronto and Edmonton have had conversations – and they weren't about Bobby McMann#LetsGoOilers #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/TiUqjj9aYn
— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) February 7, 2026
McMann, for his part, is trying to block out the noise that comes with being on the trade block.
“I like it here with Toronto. I wouldn’t necessarily want to go anywhere. I want to run with these guys. I want to make a push here,” McMann said to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “I can’t really control what happens outside of that. I’ll just have to deal with it then.”
Roy was acquired by the Maple Leafs in the Mitch Marner trade, with the goal of slotting in as the team’s third-line centre. The 29-year-old has recorded five goals and 20 points in 54 games this season. Ekman-Larsson has functioned as the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman this year and will be playing for Sweden during the Olympics. The 34-year-old has recorded eight goals and 34 points in 57 games for the Maple Leafs this season. Ekman-Larsson is under contract through the 2027-28 season at a $3.75 million cap hit, and may be more valuable to a genuine Stanley Cup contender than a Maple Leafs team in flux, seemingly looking towards a retool.
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been named captain of the United States men’s Olympic hockey team.
Matthews previously served as the United States’ captain during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk will serve as alternate captains during the Olympics.
“Auston, Charlie and Matthew did a great job in leading our team a year ago at the 4 Nations Face-Off and it’s great to have them back in those roles for the Olympics,” United States general manager Bill Guerin said in a release. “They all bring different leadership traits to the table and I know all three are excited, as is our whole team, about representing our country as part of Team USA.”
Matthews has recorded 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games for the Maple Leafs this season.
“It’s obviously a huge honour and privilege to be able to represent your country and go and compete in it,” Matthews said during his media availability on January 26. “There are a lot of things you’re excited about. I’m looking forward to, first and foremost, the hockey and being able to compete like that. I think everything that else that goes into it, it’s definitely a really special experience.”
Matthews will be a focal point of the United States’ offence during the Olympics, as he’s rounded back into top form through January. During Sunday’s practice, Matthews was paired with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy on his wings. Jack Eichel centred a line with Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk, while the team rotated the rest of their forwards.
“I think we feel like we’re up there,” Matthews said of Team USA’s chances to win gold. “We should be competing for gold. It’s first Olympics in a while since we’ve been able to consistently be up there. You want to be the best country in the world, and this is a great opportunity.”
Matthews and the United States will begin their quest for gold against Latvia on February 12 at 3:10 PM ET.
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With no Toronto Maple Leafs hockey to report on for the vast majority of February due to the Olympic break, we’re going to be zeroing in on our coverage of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) until the Maple Leafs return. Over the week of February 1-8, the Marlies played two games, beginning with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 3, and closed it out with a 5-1 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds on February 7, AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.
Let’s start with the shootout loss against the Monsters. Dennis Hildeby, who has impressed with a heavier-than-expected workload with the Leafs in 2025-26, started his first game back in the AHL and was solid despite the loss, with 31 saves on 33 shots. Jacob Quillan continued his AHL dominance with his ninth goal of the season, and Luke Haymes added the other goal to help the Marlies get off to a 2-0 lead. The Monsters would go on to tie the game with goals from prospect Luca Del Bel Belluz and then former Maple Leaf Zach Aston-Reese, who scored his first goal of the AHL season to even things up at 2 in the third period. Jack Williams scored the shootout winner to seal the deal for Cleveland.
Moving on to Saturday, the Marlies showed up with a vengeance and broke the game open in the first period, with Vinni Lettieri scoring the opening goal just over a minute into the game, and veterans Logan Shaw and Michael Pezzetta adding goals of their own before the end of the frame. The second period was without much activity aside from a late goal from Springfield’s Calle Rosen (remember him? Former Leaf). That was the extent of offence the Thunderbirds would provide, with Haymes scoring his second goal in as many games to make it 4-1 before an empty-netter from Benoit-Olivier Groulx icing the game with an empty-netter. Prospect Artur Akhtyamov stopped 29 of 30 shots en route to the win, while Groulx (1 goal, 2 assists) and defenceman Noah Chadwick (2 assists) had impressive nights of their own.
The Marlies will be off until Saturday, when they visit the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, the Laval Rocket. Following the three points this week, the Marlies are third in the North Division with a record of 23-15-4.
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Welcome back to an Olympic roster freeze edition of around the NHL. It’s great to have NHL players back playing in the Olympics, as nothing beats best-on-best hockey on the biggest stage internationally.
While the best hockey players in the world gather in Italy, general managers and executives around the league are still staying in constant contact, discussion parameters of trades. The NHL’s roster freeze concludes on Feb.22, and teams will have 12 days to sprint to the finish line in any transaction, as the trade deadline is set for Mar.6.
Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:
Edmonton Oilers looking to fill two specific needs via trade
The Oilers entered the Olympic break with a 28-22-8 record, good for second in the Pacific Division. General manager Stan Bowman is expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline, and according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Bowman will be trying to add a bottom-six forward and a shutdown defenceman once the freeze is over.
Bowman has $2.8 million in cap space to work, so his hands are a bit tied when it comes to how significant of an impact he can make. The Oilers will be bargain shopping, and that’s one of the many reasons they’ve been linked to the Maple Leafs, as Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, Brandon Carlo, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are likely four trade candidates they’re considering right now.
As far as trade assets go, the Oilers don’t have a ton to work with. They don’t own a first-round pick in 2026, and their current roster isn’t littered with young, upcoming talent with high potential. If Bowman pulls the trigger on a deal it’s likely going to involve a couple of their NHL-ready prospects, who have spent the majority of their seasons in either the American Hockey League, or even college, or junior prospects.
Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings linked to blockbuster
The Predators have had an up-and-down season in 2025-26, and entered the Olympic break with a 26-24-7 record, sitting just five points out of a playoff spot.
Despite the close proximity to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and 25 games to go, the Preds are open to moving out some of their expensive, veteran talent. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, one player that stands out for him is Jonathan Marchessault.
“Another player to add to your trade boards: Jonathan Marchessault,” stated Friedman in his most recent 32 Thoughts blog. “Nashville has the big names and strong complementary players, but I sometimes forget Marchessault and now have been reminded a couple of times. He has control, but there’s a willingness between team and player for something to happen. Unique in his case: his preference is somewhere with good minor hockey infrastructure for his children.”
Marchessault, 35, is signed through the 2029 season at $5.5 million AAV. He owns a full no-movement clause until his final season of his contract, so the pesky winger certainly controls his own destiny. There’s been some chatter the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are interested, and when it comes to the Habs, they could include pending free-agent forward Patrik Laine in the deal.
Moving on from Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly continue to be two of the biggest fish onlooking teams covet. O’Reilly doesn’t have any trade protection on his current deal, however, the organization has promised him he’ll be kept in the loop on potential destinations and won’t complete the deal unless it can make sense for O’Reilly, and his family. The Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings are two teams who have been heavily linked in O’Reilly trade talks.
As for Stamkos, he’s signed through the 2028 season at $8 million AAV, and his no-movement clause gives the future hall-of-famer all the say in the matter. The Carolina Hurricanes are one team to keep an eye on, and the same can be said about the Red Wings, as Steve Yzerman and Stamkos are very close, and the Red Wings will be looking to add a top-six forward, and top-four defenceman ahead of the deadline.
The Red Wings are having a fantastic season, entering the Olympic break with a 33-19-6 record, sitting third in the Atlantic Division. Last season Yzerman didn’t make a move ahead of the deadline, despite decent playoff odds, and was ridiculed by captain Dylan Larkin in the media. This year will be a very different story, so expect to see a couple of big names make their way to Motown ahead of Mar.6.
Quick hits from around the NHL
- Team Canada had their first practice on Olympic ice and here’s how the lines were stacked up:
lines at first practice of Milan Olympics
Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Marchand – MacKinnon – Suzuki
Stone – Crosby – Marner
Hagel – Horvat – Reinhart
Jarvis, Bennett
Toews – Makar
Morrissey – Parayko
Harley – Doughty
Theodore – Sanheim @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 8, 2026
- Meanwhile, Auston Matthews was named captain of Team USA, and is centering the team’s second line in between Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy.
- William Nylander is expected to play on Team Sweden’s top line, centered by Mika Zibanejad.
- There’s been a lot of chatter about the Los Angeles Kings not being close to finished ahead of the trade deadline, and Calgary Flames‘ Nazem Kadri continues to be linked.
- Winnipeg Jets are expected to cash in on pending free-agent defenceman Logan Stanley, who is having a career season, and at 6-foot-7 and a smooth skater, can bring a whole different look to a contending team’s blueline.
- Speaking of bluelines, the San Jose Sharks only have two defencemen signed for next season, and GM Mike Grier is trying to add at least one d-man who is signed through next season via trade.
- As for Kadri, his trade talks appear to be linked to St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas, who many teams feel is ‘plan A’, and Kadri is ‘plan B’, when it comes to trade interest.
- The New York Rangers aren’t done making moves and don’t be surprised to see them give former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere a change of scenery before Mar.6.
- Seattle Kraken are open to moving Shane Wright, but only for a top-six forward with term. They included Wright in the Artemi Panarin trade talks, but Panarin wasn’t interested in signing a two-year extension in Seattle, despite being offered more money than the Kings.
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Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!
The NHL draft is one of the premier events on the hockey calendar, but for many fans, the interest and excitement are limited to the first couple of rounds, where the names are familiar, and the likelihood of landing an NHL-calibre player is higher. For all but the most hardcore observers, the players selected later in the draft are completely unknown quantities, and their road to the top level is a lot longer and more uncertain.
Even the late-round gems that do hit typically take a while to emerge and build their stock, but once in a while, the early returns on a later pick are hard to ignore. That’s becoming the case for the Toronto Maple Leafs and 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka.
Holinka spent most of his draft season lighting up the Czech junior ranks to the tune of 41 points in just 29 games, and he ended up getting into 16 games in Czechia’s top pro league that year as well, notching a goal and two assists in limited action. It’s always a good sign when young players can hold their own in a professional setting, but it’s far from a guarantee of future success.
Rather than continuing his development at home, Holinka signed with the Edmonton Oil Kings when they selected him in the CHL import draft shortly after the NHL draft, and that’s where he has really started to make a name for himself. His rookie season was solid, if unspectacular, lining up as a top-six pivot for the Oil Kings and registering 45 points in 47 games before going cold in the playoffs, and he also put up four points in seven games to help Czechia earn bronze at the World Juniors. He has taken his game to another level this season and has become one of the most dominant players in the WHL.
Playing a pivotal role for one of the best teams in the league, Holinka has filled the scoresheet all season long, while also playing a reliable defensive game. With a pair of goals and an assist in a blowout win over Moose Jaw on Friday, he is up to 30 goals and 35 assists in 43 games, including nine goals in his last 10 games. His 65 points are good for ninth in WHL scoring, but he ranks fourth leaguewide in terms of points per game. Holinka has gotten it done in all situations as well, with 20 points on the man advantage, and he is tied for the league lead with four shorthanded markers.
Miro's goton the season
@EdmOilKings | @MapleLeafs | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Q8AteUFEDO
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 7, 2026
There is still a long way to go before Holinka is pushing for NHL minutes, but in two short years, he has gone from a late-round project to establishing himself as a legitimate NHL prospect. He isn’t exactly a burner, but he can get around the rink, and his ability to process the game around him allows him to utilize the rest of his offensive toolkit. He’s got slick hands in tight spaces, great vision to find teammates through defensive coverages, and he can beat goaltenders with clean looks from scoring areas. He does all of that while taking on tough minutes against the opposition’s best players night after night, and with each passing game, he looks more ready to take on the next level.
Already signed to an entry-level contract with the Leafs, Holinka is on track to break into the AHL next season, and he could become a key figure in the Marlies’ lineup right away. Beyond their NHL roster, Toronto isn’t exactly deep down the middle, and Holinka has shown the ability to contribute at both ends of the ice. There are sure to be growing pains as he adjusts to the North American pro game, but Holinka has met every challenge head-on to this point in his career, and he might just become the latest diamond in the rough for a Leafs’ pipeline that desperately needs one.
Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:
- Last week, I wrote about potentially getting Easton Cowan some reps with the Marlies over the Olympic break, but due to a provision in the CBA regarding games played leading up to the break, Cowan wasn’t eligible to be sent down. One could argue that the Leafs should have planned around that, especially with Cowan’s role with the Leafs becoming less clear over the last couple of weeks, but the reality is that he is a young player who has played a lot of hockey over the last couple of years. Between back-to-back appearances at the World Juniors and back-to-back Memorial Cup runs before making the jump to the NHL as a 20-year-old, the break should be a good thing for Cowan as he figures to have a more consistent role down the stretch as the Leafs prepare to sell off some veteran pieces ahead of the trade deadline.
- Dennis Hildeby made his second start since being sent back to the Marlies when they took on Cleveland this past Tuesday, and he had a strong showing despite losing in a shootout. Hildeby held down the fort through regulation and overtime, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced. His numbers in the AHL aren’t quite as impressive as his results in the NHL this season, but that shouldn’t hurt his value should the Leafs decide to dangle him as a trade piece ahead of the deadline.
- The Leafs are expected to punch a more permanent hole into their lineup for Cowan before the trade deadline, and there might be more opportunity for Jacob Quillan down the stretch as well. He’s done just about everything the organization could hope for at the AHL level this season, adding another goal and assist over his last two games to bring him up to 29 points in 30 games, and he has earned a chance to show what he can do with an extended look at the NHL level.
QUILLY CLEANS IT UP!pic.twitter.com/blnznhpksU
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 4, 2026
- Luke Haymes hasn’t been as productive this season as he would have hoped, but he has scored in each of his last two games. Through 42 games in his first full season of pro hockey, he now has seven goals and nine assists. The organization will be hoping he can follow a similar trajectory to that of fellow undrafted signing, Quillan, and put together a breakout season with the Marlies in 2026-27.
QuillyHaymer
Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes connected for a massive insurance goal to help us to the win today! pic.twitter.com/XS9UM8UmUr
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 8, 2026
- Tyler Hopkins has stepped into the role of first line centre with his new club in Guelph, but the team has struggled of late, and his numbers haven’t exactly jumped off the page. He scored a beautiful breakaway tally this past week, however, helping secure a victory for the Storm over the Erie Otters. In 15 games since being dealt to Guelph, Hopkins has four goals and six assists to add to the 25 points he posted in 29 games with Kingston before the trade.
- Artur Akhtyamov‘s playing time has taken a bit of a hit since Hildeby returned to the Marlies, but his numbers haven’t. After stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced in a 5-1 win over Springfield this past weekend, Akhtyamov owns a record of 16-7-4 to go along with a 2.91 GAA and a .902 SV%. He is quite firmly the fourth netminder on the organizational depth chart, but the progress he has shown over the last two seasons could make the Leafs feel even more secure in dealing from the position of strength that their crease has become.
- It was another productive weekend in what has been a big bounce-back season for Nick Moldenhauer with the Michigan Wolverines. He scored in each contest of Michigan’s two-game set with rival Michigan State, and now has four goals in his last three games. After posting just three goals and seven assists in 29 games a year ago, Moldenhauer is up to 10 goals and 12 assists through 28 games in his third season with the Wolverines.
- Another collegiate prospect for the Maple Leafs, Hudson Malinoski, had a big weekend as well. Things haven’t gone his way this season, but Malinoski scored in both games as Providence picked up a pair of 6-1 victories over the weekend. He isn’t likely to match last season’s numbers at this point, but he’s got eight goals and two helpers through 27 games.
Net-front presence
Malinoski tips in the shot from Adams for his 8th of the season and second of the weekend! Martin Masa also earns an assist.https://t.co/x0yxfPwSXW x @ESPNPlus https://t.co/dkXWPKQeaJ pic.twitter.com/WoHU2qZ15W
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) February 8, 2026
- Noah Chadwick continued his productive second half with a pair of assists against Springfield on Saturday. The 2023 sixth-rounder is up to 15 points in 44 games as a rookie for the Marlies, with nine of those points coming in his last 10 games. He is looking more and more comfortable at the pro level, and with another summer working on his mobility, he could be a vital piece for the Marlies in 2026-27.
BANG BANG
Vinni Lettieri goes post and in to get us going early! pic.twitter.com/9Fm7geD4cj
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 7, 2026
Statistics from EliteProspects.com & CHL.ca
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews remained with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy during USA men’s hockey practice Wednesday.
Matthews, who is captaining the United States, will be featuring in a top-six role to start the tournament. The 28-year-old has recorded 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games with the Maple Leafs this season. Matthews recorded three assists in three games for the United States during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
“It’s obviously a huge honour and privilege to be able to represent your country and go and compete in it,” Matthews said on January 26. “There are a lot of things you’re excited about. I’m looking forward to, first and foremost, the hockey and being able to compete like that. I think everything that else that goes into it, it’s definitely a really special experience.”
Guentzel-Matthews-Boldy could be one of the most potent scoring lines in the entire tournament. Boldy has registered 32 goals and 62 points in 54 games for the Minnesota Wild, tied for 15th in NHL scoring. Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning have caught fire entering the break, and the veteran forward has registered 26 goals and 60 points in 55 contests this season.
Ahead of Thursday’s game against Latvia, United States head coach Mike Sullivan will not name his starting goaltender. Connor Hellebuyck is the presumed starter ahead of the game.
It’s the first time Matthews will be representing the United States at the Olympics, as his team looks to win gold for the first time since 1980.
“I think we feel like we’re up there,” Matthews said. “We should be competing for gold. It’s first Olympics in a while since we’ve been able to consistently be up there. You want to be the best country in the world, and this is a great opportunity.”
United States’ projected lines vs. Latvia
Brady Tkachuk-Jack Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor-Dylan Larkin-Tage Thompson
Jack Hughes-Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck or JT Miller
Quinn Hughes-Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin-Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson-Zach Werenski
Connor Hellebuyck (projected starter)
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Wednesday afternoon’s Olympic men’s hockey match between Team Sweden and Team Italy was a lot closer than people may have predicted it would be. Despite Sweden outshooting the Italians 59-18, the host country kept things close with an eventual 5-2 win for Sweden. Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander scored the game-winner for Team Sweden, scoring the third goal of the game after Italy took an early 1-0 lead and eventually fought back to tie it 2-2.
Nylander was a game-time decision heading into the tournament-opener for Sweden after missing practice on Tuesday, but he was deemed good to go before the game and ended up with a positive contribution. Sweden’s other goals came from Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog, Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling, New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, and Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman (EN). Luca Frigo and Matt Bradley scored for the Italians.
The player of the game for either side was undoubtedly Italy goaltender and Anaheim Ducks prospect Damian Clara, who was single-handedly keeping Italy in it before he was injured while making a save on Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson’s breakaway attempt. Clara finished the game with 40 saves on 43 shots before leaving the game and being relieved by Davide Fadani.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was dressed for this game but was the team’s seventh defenceman and logged only one shift in the game, skating for a total of 1:07. Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg was the extra forward for the Swedes and didn’t log any ice time.
The men’s hockey facet of the Olympics will continue on Thursday with a full slate of games. Team France will face Team Switzerland to kick off the day, followed by Team Canada against Team Czechia, before Auston Matthews and Team USA take on Team Latvia in the afternoon in correspondence with Team Germany and Team Denmark.
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Team Canada’s men’s national team, NHL players included, have returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, and boy was it sweet to have them back.
In Canada’s first game of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, they crushed Team Czechia 5-0, appropriate revenge for the way Czechia’s junior teams have handled Canada’s in the past couple of World Junior tournaments. They outshot Czechia 36-26, with St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopping all 26 shots on goal for the shutout win in the tournament-opener.
Canada kicked off the scoring with five seconds left in the first period, with young San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini deflecting a point shot from Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar to open the game. It was a moment to remember for the 19-year-old Celebrini, who was skating on a line with Connor McDavid and Tom Wilson to kick things off. Canada continued to press in the second period, with Vegas Golden Knights teammates Mitch Marner and Mark Stone connecting on a goal thanks to a nifty backhand saucer pass from Marner for an easy tap-in for Stone. New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat scored a breakaway goal near the end of the second frame to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the third period, Canada put the finishing touches on the game and never gave Czechia a chance to get back into it. McDavid picked up his second and third assists of the game, first on a power play where he sent it across the crease for a back-door tap-in from Nathan MacKinnon. Then, he found Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki at even strength for the 5-0 goal. It’s no secret that a Canada team that boasts McDavid, MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby down the middle is going to be a tough customer, but it was somewhat surprising to see a Czechia team featuring the likes of David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, and Tomas Hertl, fail to find the back of the net.
Canada will be back in action on Friday as they look to keep their momentum up against Team Switzerland. From a Toronto Maple Leafs standpoint, Auston Matthews and Team USA will take on Team Latvia on Thursday afternoon, with William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Team Sweden back in action early Friday morning against their Scandanavian rivals in Team Finland.
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The United States’ men’s hockey team opened up their tournament on Friday afternoon, handily beating Team Latvia 5-1 to kick things off at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA captain Auston Matthews wasn’t the most noticeable player on the ice, but he did find the back of the net in the first game of the tournament. Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk opened things up in the first period, scoring with assists from his brother, Matthew, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski. A little over two minutes later, Latvia evened things up with a goal from Renars Krastenbergs assisted by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons, but that would be the extent of Latvia’s competitiveness in the game.
The States opened things up in the second period, with two goals from Brock Nelson, who is having a career year with the Colorado Avalanche and on pace for 40 goals in 2025-26. The first one was a power play marker, assisted by Jack Hughes and Vincent Trocheck, and the second was at even-strength, also assisted by Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk. Sandwiched in between those two goals was another power play marker from Tage Thompson, assisted by Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes.
In the third period, Matthews scored under three minutes into the frame on the power play with assists coming from Eichel and Hughes. It was his first goal of the tournament and effectively put the cap on any potential comeback from Team Latvia. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck got the start in the team’s first game and stopped 17 of 18 shots, with a less pretty but admirable effort coming from Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs for Latvia, with 31 saves on 36 shots.
Matthews and the States will be back in action on Saturday when they face Denmark, while Canada will square off against Team Switzerland on Friday afternoon. William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Team Sweden will duke it out against Team Finland early Friday morning.
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A collection of talent that includes Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon can often feel unfair, and the NHL’s leading scorers put on a clinic Friday afternoon.
McDavid and MacKinnon both finished with three points, leading Canada to a 5-1 victory over Switzerland. The pair connected for the game’s opening goal, when MacKinnon found McDavid with a perfect pass, and the Edmonton Oilers captain made no mistake on the power play. McDavid was the most dominant player on the ice for the second consecutive night, and set up Thomas Harley off the rush for an insurance goal later in the first frame.
Pius Suter cut into Canada’s lead on the power play, after Bo Horvat was called for high-sticking. It was all the offence that Switzerland could generate against a loaded Canadian team that rolled four lines with ease.
Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the tournament, depositing a quick backhand feed from MacKinnon to extend Canada’s lead to 3-1, four minutes and 14 seconds into the second period. Sidney Crosby added to the lead, deflecting a pass from Mitch Marner, while Mark Stone occupied J.J. Moser in front of the net.
And the story of the game effectively wrote itself, as MacKinnon tacked on another goal 13 minutes into the final frame, assisted by McDavid. MacKinnon was bumped up to the first line alongside Celebrini and McDavid, while Tom Wilson took shifts with Brandon Hagel and Nick Suzuki.
Logan Thompson was stellar when called upon for Canada, but it almost certainly appears that Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the remainder of the tournament.
Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher with just under three minutes remaining in the third period. Fiala accidentally collided with Tom Wilson and crumpled to the ice.
In other Group A action, Czechia defeated France 6-3. During the early slate, Finland defeated Sweden 4-1, while Slovakia toppled Italy 3-2.
Canada resumes preliminary action against France on Sunday afternoon, sitting atop the group.
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